In the rapidly evolving financial sector, digital transformation is not just a buzzword—it's a necessity. Argenta Netherlands, a digital bank specializing in savings and mortgages for individuals, recognized the pressing need to modernize its customer environment. Facing challenges with high maintenance costs and limited development capabilities, Argenta partnered with Emixa to revamp its digital landscape using the Mendix low-code platform. This collaboration aimed to enhance customer experience, reduce operational costs, and provide a scalable solution for future developments.
Step 1: Identifying the Need for Change
Argenta's existing customer environment, particularly the 'my environment' portal, was becoming increasingly untenable. The system was expensive to maintain and offered little flexibility for further development. Recognizing the importance of providing customers with a seamless digital experience, Argenta sought a solution that would allow for rapid development, cost efficiency, and improved user engagement.
Step 2: Choosing the Right Partner
The collaboration between Argenta and Emixa began serendipitously, with both companies located in close proximity. This geographical closeness facilitated initial interactions, leading to a hands-on session where Emixa demonstrated its capabilities by creating a prototype application. Impressed by Emixa's approach and expertise, Argenta invited them to participate in a formal request for proposal (RFP) process, ultimately selecting Emixa as their digital transformation partner.
Step 3: Laying a Solid Foundation with Sprint 0
To ensure a structured and effective development process, Emixa initiated a preliminary phase known as Sprint 0. This phase focused on four key areas: business analysis, user experience, technical design, and project management. By thoroughly exploring these domains, the team established a clear roadmap for the project's success, aligning technical solutions with business objectives.
Step 4: Developing the Minimal Viable Product (MVP)
Active development commenced in August 2021, with the goal of delivering a minimal viable product (MVP) that encapsulated the essential functionalities of the end product. Over 25 weeks, spanning 12 two-week sprints, the team developed and refined the application. This iterative approach allowed for continuous feedback and adjustments, ensuring the final product met user needs and expectations.
Step 5: Ensuring Quality Assurance and Security
Quality assurance was a cornerstone of the project. Emixa involved a QA specialist to validate the application's quality, ensuring adherence to IT architecture standards and development best practices. Additionally, the Omnext program 'Stay Fit and Secure' was employed to objectively measure the application's quality based on ISO 25010 standards and Mendix guidelines. This rigorous approach ensured a secure and reliable application, minimizing the risk of data breaches and enhancing user trust.
Step 6: Implementing Two-Factor Authentication
To further bolster security, Argenta and Emixa developed an authenticator app based on two-factor authentication (2FA) principles. This app adds an extra layer of security to the 'my environment' portal, combining multiple authentication factors to verify user identities. The implementation of 2FA underscores Argenta's commitment to safeguarding customer data and providing a secure banking experience.
Conclusion
Argenta's partnership with Emixa exemplifies the transformative power of low-code solutions in the financial sector. By leveraging the Mendix platform, Argenta successfully modernized its customer environment, achieving greater flexibility, reduced costs, and enhanced user satisfaction. This case study highlights the importance of strategic partnerships and innovative technologies in driving digital transformation.
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